Glossary
Definitions should not be construed as legal advice. Legal terms may be found in Black's Legal Dictionary or by consulting any legal dictionary available. This glossary contains a brief number of terms.
xxxA - E xxxxxxF - Hxxxxxx I - OxxxxxxP - Rxxxxxx S - Z
Bond - A promise to appear in court, which often includes a guarantee of money, and which is required for a person who has been arrested to get out of jail while waiting for a trial. (Sometimes called bail or a bail bond.)
Charge - The formal statement that details what the arrested person is accused of doing. A charge may be brought by an information, which is a sworn statement filed in court by a prosecutor; or by an indictment, which is filed by a grand jury.
Defendant - The person who is accused of committing a crime.
Evidence - Anything that helps to show what is true and what is not.
Federal Offense - A violation of law passed by the United States Congress. These cases are heard in the United States District Courts, and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney. Sentences are served in the federal prison system.
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Felony - A more serious offense, punishable by a sentence to be served in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Murder, robbery, and burglary are felony offenses. Possession of heroin, cocaine, or more than 35 grams of marijuana are also felonies. Some felonies may also be punished by a fine.
Guilty - Committed the crime charged.
Grand Jury - Twelve citizens chosen from the community who hear evidence presented by the prosecutor and then decide whether the person arrested should be held for a trial. Grand jury meetings are held in private and are not open to the public.
Information and Indictment - The two types of documents that may be used to state the charge or charges against the defendant.
Innocent - Did no wrong, committed no crime.
Misdemeanor - A violation of state laws, punishable by a sentence of up to one year, to be served in the county jail or workhouse, or by a fine, or both. Trespassing and possession of under 35 grams of marijuana are examples of misdemeanors.
Offense - Another word for a crime; a violation of law.
Ordinance - A local law of a city, town or county. Examples of ordinance violations would be a traffic ticket, a peace disturbance, or a petty theft. Punishment is usually by a fine. (Note: Some traffic tickets and other minor offenses can be charged either as an ordinance violation or a misdemeanor.)
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(Petit) Jury - Twelve citizens chosen from the community who are asked questions to determine if they can be fair, who hear the evidence in a trial and decide what is true and whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Preliminary Hearing - A court proceeding where a judge hears evidence to decide if the person arrested should be held for trial. An alternative to a grand jury.
Probation - An alternative to time in prison or jail. Conditions can be set by the judge, and may be supervised by a probation officer. Violation of conditions may result in probation revocation and imposition of time in prison or jail.
Prosecutor - The lawyer for the State of Missouri.
Recidivism - Habitual relapse into crime. A repeated relapsing into criminal or delinquent behavior.
Sentence - The length of time in prison or in jail that is imposed on the defendant by the judge upon a finding of guilty. In some cases, the sentence is set by the jury. For some crimes, the sentence can be a fine instead of time in jail.
Voir Dire - The process of questioning potential jurors to determine if they can be fair.
Waive - To voluntarily give up a right.
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